Sugarpill Cosmetics Bulletproof Eyeshadow Review

We all know that I love abit of sugarpill and that they’re my go-to brand for a bright eye, so when I finally got my grabby hands on Bulletproof, a few weeks of dark/smokey eyes ensued. I’d been wanting to get my hands on this shade for a while, but every time I made an online order it was out of stock. A few weeks ago I spotted it in Cyberdog Manchester along with the Cold Chemistry Palette, so snapped it up in a jifyy. Firstly, as with all Sugarpill products, the packaging is lovely. Very sleek and sturdy with the cute brand logo stamped on top. Bulletproof is a true matte black, with no hint of any glitter, shimmer or a colour shift. It is extremely pigmented, soft without being too powdery and blendable . However, there is some fallout upon application so be wary of smearing it down the face. If used with a light hand, its a great choice for the outer crease to add definition and is absolutely perfect for a smokey or darker eye look. Bulletproof is without doubt, the best matte black I have ever used and will remain a staple in my collection for years to come. MAC Carbon, eat your heart out!

Pros: Pigmented, soft, blendable, lovely packaging, cruelty free, vegan, reasonable price.
Cons: Some fallout.

You can pick Bulletproof up from the Sugarpill website for $12 or love makeup for £8.50. It can also be found in any Cyberdog store. Next Sugarpill product on the wish list? Lumi come at me!

Have you tried sugarpill makeup? What's your favourite matte black eyeshadow?

xox

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Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Foundation Review

It’s not often you see me review foundations as I tend to stick to the same one consistently, namely my Illamasqua Skin Base. Last year I did get a sample of DiorSkin Forever and ended up loving it so much that this Christmas I finally took the plunge and used some vouchers to purchase the full size. Firstly, the packaging is gorgeous. Very luxurious housed in a glass bottle with a metal pump and a navy blue lid, which is prone to fingerprints i may add, as can probably be seen above. I have shade 011 which leans slightly more yellow, as when getting colour matched I requested something to cancel out the redness on my face. I use one pump of this foundation and lightly buff into the skin with my Sigma F82, which leaves me with a light coverage of product that evens out my skin tone nicely. I’ve read reviews which state that it’s medium coverage/buildable but i generally prefer a lighter base with concealer where its needed, so use it sparingly.

This foundation is not quite matte, but it does have a slight gleam for a very natural looking finish. Furthermore, it has a silky, fluid texture and sits very lightly on the skin, not feeling too heavy or sinking into pores. Now this isn't a complete match for my skin tone, but as i use it so sparingly that it blends in beautifully and I haven’t experienced any oxidisation. Longwearing with minimal transfer, DiorSkin Forever is generally a lovely foundation to use with the added bonus of containing spf making it perfect for daytime. Although if you have sensitive skin I would be wary, as one of the ingredients is alcohol.

Pros: Looks natural, has spf 25, evens out skin tone, hasn’t oxidised, longwearing.
Cons: Expensive, not a great range of shades, contains alcohol.

For £32, this foundation is expensive. I don’t think I would repurchase it as nothing, as of yet, can compare to my Skin Base, but it’s a nice foundation to have for those special occasions/feel good days. We all need a little treat every now and again. You can find this in Debenhams and Boots online/in select stores.

What's your favourite high end foundation? Have you ever tried DiorSkin Forever?

xox

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Disney Fashion: It was all Started by a Mouse

Jumper from H&M (£20.00)

Hello there! Today marks the start of my miscellaneous Sunday Feature which shall see me deviate away from beauty and venture into the realms of fashion, lifestyle, art and possibly even a little bit of food. I may not post every Sunday but this is an attempt to inject a little bit more of my personality into my blog. First up I bring you one of my recent Disney Fashion finds. Half of my wardrobe consists of clothing adorned with those lovable characters and I can never resist adding to the collection. Some might consider Disney clothing to be tacky or childish, which some of it can be (hello garish Primark prints), but you can find some pretty cute bargains on the high-street rather frequently these days! I spotted this Mickey Mouse Jumper in H&M a while ago, its unique design stealing my heart. It sticks with my everyday monochrome preference without being too plain and is pretty much perfect for the current climate. I’ve generally been wearing this jumper with some skinny jeans and a t-shirt/vest top underneath on colder days.

Let me know what you think about this new Sunday Feature and anything you would like to see in future posts!
What are your thoughts on Disney inspired fashion?

xox

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Hydraluron Moisture Booster Review: Skincare Holy Grail

For a long time I wasn’t that fussed about the hype surrounding Hydraluron, a product which caters to those with dehydrated skin. I have slightly oily skin so in my mind it wasn't moisture I needed. Before i go into that though, let me tell you about my skin struggles. I’m going to write a more in depth post about my skin history and what products I use to combat it soon, so here’s just a basic outline. I’ve battled with acne since my teenage years. It’s never been bad by any means, but it’s been constant. Sure i have good skin moments and bad skin moments, but its never been completely clear. With scarring on top of that, as a young teenager it really knocked my confidence and I spent years covering it up every single day, even around my family. It’s only since I hit my 20s that I’m not as bothered showing my bare face. Fast forward to summer 2013 when i jetted off to spend the summer working in Walt Disney World Florida. If you didn’t already know or haven't experienced it before, the weather in Florida is very humid. You can feel the moisture in the air throughout the summer. After a few days I started to notice my skin had nearly instantly started to become clear. In that 10 weeks my skin was the best its ever been since I was a child. Annoying, when I came back to the UK it soon went back to its old ways. My Liz Earle Skin Tonic did have a hand in making it a bit better but it was getting so frustrating. That is until someone mentioned that I might not be giving my skin enough moisture, hence the humidity working wonders for it, which made complete sense.

After spotting Hydraluron with a third off in boots at the beginning of last month, I knew I had to give it a whirl. It claims to increase skin hydration from below the surface due to the Hyaluronic Acid it contains, increasing skin elasticity and reducing roughness. Saying its done wonders for my skin is an understatement. After a month of twice a day use, I can see the miracle its worked. My skin not only feels more plump, soft and hydrated but I also have no blemishes what so ever as I write this post. For someone who has struggled with their skin for 10 years, I feel so elated that this is actually working! I’m under no illusions, it’s still early days but I'm holding out hope. I don't think that this is going to be the end of all problems, I know I’m going to still get the odd blemish but as it stands now this product has a Holy Grail status. At £25 for 30ml it is expensive, but if it keeps my skin looking like it does right now, I wouldn't hesitate on repurchasing. Dare I say it borderlines on life changing for me. My only quip is that it doesn't come in a bigger size.
If you would like to see a “3 month” update on how Hydraluron is working then please let me know! Fingers crossed it keeps up the good work. You can pick this up from boots online and in store. Remember to also keep an eye out for regular offers!

Pros: Worked wondering in clearing and hydrating my skin, sinks into the skin quickly, helps moisturiser sink in better, no fuss “to the point” packaging, No animal derived products are used, a little goes a long way.
Cons: Expensive, only comes in a 30ml tube.

Have you ever tried Hydraluron? What's your favourite product containing Hyaluronic Acid?

xox

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Collective Haul: Disney Makeup, Sugarpill, Urban Decay etc.

After budgeting for so long it feels weird to actually have money. I’m still planning on saving most of my hard earned pennies as travelling is a priority of mine in the near future, but I'm not going to be as restricting when it comes to treating myself, especially to skincare. So, on that note today’s post is a collective haul from the past 2 months. I do have some other bits on the way (Pixi Glow Tonic for example) but I wanted to get this up sooner rather than later.

Firstly is one of the MUA Velvet Lip Lacquers (£3) in Kooky. I’ve been on the hunt for these for a while so snapped one up when I finally spotted them in Superdrug. I most definitely need to get my hands on the pink version for everyday wear as Kooky looks beautiful and lasts a long time on the lips. Taking a trip down memory lane recently, saw me stopping by Cyberdog in Affleck's Palace, Manchester, and ending up leaving with a spontaneous Sugarpill purchase. I’ve wanted Bulletproof (£10), an amazing matte black, for years but it was always out of stock when I made an online order and the newest palette release, Cold Chemistry (£30), was bound to make its way into my stash sooner or later. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (£24.75), the 200ml size, was a repurchase and I finally caved on getting Hydraluron (£24.99). My skin has been quite horrendous after returning home from Florida, the humidity there majorly agreeing with me and causing it to be the clearest its ever been. I came to the conclusion that the cause for my skin trouble may be down to a lack of moisture (odd to get my head around as I have slight oily skin). I’ll have a review on this coming soon but I think its safe to say, I may have found a HG product.

I collect the small Sephora Disney Princess palettes so when I saw the one I missed back online in October, I knew it had to be mine. Luckily, the lovely Samantha offered to ship it over the the UK for me. Midnight Hour is inspired by Cinderella and retailed for around $30. Unfortunately it is limited edition and I doubt it will come back in stock on Sephora’s website. You can always find it on ebay though, if you keep an eye out. The ELF Disney Villains palettes are also pretties we can’t buy over here in the UK. I managed to get my hands on a Maleficent Look Book from a blog sale before Christmas and since then, the gorgeous Susan has managed to find me some more bits in the collection that are currently on their way to my grabby hands. Keep your eyes peeled as I’m going to be having a giveaway of one of the palettes sometime soon. Furthermore, three of the Etude House Minnie Mouse Nail Polishes made their way into my basket after seeing how cute and inexpensive they were. I got mine from this ebay seller. They have brilliant customer service and promptly sent out a replacement after I received the wrong polish so i really recommend them for your Asian beauty buys.

Rounding it up with my most recent purchases, I spent my Christmas Debenhams vouchers on Diorskin Forever (£32) and Urban Decay Naked Basics (£20). I’ve had a sample of the Dior foundation before and absolutely loved it although I do admit, I probably wouldn't have splurged on it if it wasn't for the vouchers, I'm a cheapskate. I really wanted something which was a lighter coverage and luxurious, this foundation totally ticking the boxes. I have shade 011 which leans a bit to the yellow side as to cancel out some of the redness on my face. Finally, I don’t really know what to say about Naked Basics other than duh? I love Naked 1 and 2 so having a travel friendly neutral eye basic was a natural progression really.

Have you ever tried any of these products? What have you treated yourself to recently?

xox

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Sugarpill Cold Chemistry Eyeshadow Palette Review

When it comes to bright eyeshadow, Sugarpill is my go-to brand. Their intensely pigmented colourful eyeshadows are second to none, so when they announced the release of a darker smokey palette, I knew it would end up in my collection at some point. Fast forward a few months and a cheeky browse in Cyberdog, resisting was never an option. If you’re familiar with previous palettes, the first thing noticed is that the packaging has changed considerably. Each shadow is placed side by side while the graphics are more edgier and gothic than the usual pretty pinks. Created in collaboration with Amelia Arsenic, designer of cult fashion and art brand A is for Arsenic London, this cool toned beauty packs tonne of sparkle without being too overpowering. But, let be honest here, there is Never too much sparkle!

Soot & Stars is a dark charcoal loaded with glitter that looks slightly holographic.
Diamond Eyes is shimmery white that just screams frost/ice.
Elemental Chaos is a deep violet shade with a pearl finish and glitter which also looks slightly holographic.
Subterranean is a forest green with pretty sparkles and a teal undertone which is made more obvious under certain lighting.

As expected, all four shadows are beautifully pigmented, although there is some glitter fallout which is unavoidable really. With smooth, buttery textures they blend perfectly and the longevity is spot on with three of them. I have seen slight creasing and fading on my lid as the day progresses with Elemental Chaos though (used over UDPP). It’s not that noticeable to be fair, but I'm used to eye shadow staying put all day. Overall it’s a lovely palette and I would 100% recommend everyone to try Sugarpill makeup if you haven't already.

Pros: Beautiful colours, pigmented, smooth blending, unique packaging,
Cons: Elemental Chaos doesn't last as long, some fallout.

Cold Chemistry is priced at $34 on Sugarpills website or £24.95 on Love Makeup. Alternatively you can pick it up in any Cyberdog UK store.

Have you tried Cold Chemistry? What’s your favourite Sugarpill palette?

xox

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All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them <3

2013 was literally the best year of my life. I spent the summer in Walt Disney World working for the mouse. Not only was it the toughest thing I have ever had to do but it was the greatest experience of my life. Dreams really can come true. I met three of my best friends on the program who i still speak to every single day while my love/obsession for Disney was re-kindled 10fold. I was lucky enough to travel to LA and New York after my program, while also visiting Disneyland Resort California, an absolute dream come true. I graduated from University and started my PGCE which landed me teaching Photography at The Manchester College. All the while i had good times with my friends and grew even closer with my boyfriend.

I wasn't intending to do one of these posts but with the new year comes that standard need to make a fresh start. To want to do better and create goals which are rarely ever stuck to. But, what the heck, any excuse to write a list (I love list making!)

Travel. This summer has set a spark and a need to see the world. As much as I crave to re-visit Disney every year, I know i should set my sights elsewhere and explore, at least for now. Some of the main places I want to visit in the next couple of years are New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Rome and Iceland. Furthermore, I will be applying for Disney’s CRP program this year to which I am going to keep trying until I can work for the mouse again. I WILL be a Cast Member once more. I’m also considering a role as a cruise ship photographer, a hard but hopefully rewarding experience.

Get Crafty. In a bid to be more creative and also so save a bit of money, i want to undertake more DIY projects. Whether this is creating furnishings or making clothes, getting a sewing machine for Christmas has really gotten the creative juices flowing. Sticking to my photography is included with this and I hope to put my website online very soon.

Rebrand. As you can probably see I’ve rarely posted since being in America. I’ve just not been feeling it. I’ve half been tempted to pack in blogging all together. During December I took a step back and didn't pressure myself to post, its probably the best thing I could have done. I no longer feel a pressure to blog and create content. I’m never going to be dedicated enough to post every single day, but I'm also not going to kick myself over not posting. With the new year will hopefully come a new look. A new layout, more makeup looks and more posts inspired by the things which fuel my daily life.

Get Organized. Oh lordy, i am such an unorganized person, one of my main faults being time management. Whether it’s getting ready in the morning or doing assignments, I am terrible for procrastination and managing my time poorly. This year i am determined to put aside time and resources for tasks, no matter if it be blogging or keeping up to date with my uni work. Plus its an excuse to buy some cute stationary…ahem.

Did you have any life changing experiences in 2013? What are your goals for 2014?
Remember to check out my post on What i got for Christmas!

xox

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